Riding The Rails

Ever wanted to be a hobo? Riding the rails, no man your master, living life on your terms?

At the 1889 National Hobo Convention, held in St. Louis, they adopted a "Hobo Ethical Code" to provide guidelines for how hobos should behave. Here it is:

1. Decide your own life; don't let another person run or rule you.
2. When in town, always respect the local law and officials, and try to be a gentleman at all times.
3. Don't take advantage of someone who is in a vulnerable situation, locals or other hobos.
4. Always try to find work, even if temporary, and always seek out jobs nobody wants. By doing so, you not only help a business along but ensure employment should you return to that town again.
5. When no employment is available, make your own work by using your added talents at crafts.
6. Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for locals' treatment of other hobos.
7. When jungling in town, respect handouts and do not wear them out; another hobo will be coming along who will need them as badly, if not worse than you.
8. Always respect nature; do not leave garbage where you are jungling.
9. If in a community jungle, always pitch in and help.
10. Try to stay clean, and boil up wherever possible.

11. When traveling, ride your train respectfully. Take no personal chances, cause no problems with the operating crew or host railroad; act like an extra crew member.
12. Do not cause problems in a train yard; another hobo will be coming along who will need passage through that yard.
13. Do not allow other hobos to molest children; expose all molesters to authorities - they are the worst garbage to infest any society.
14. Help all runaway children, and try to induce them to return home.
15. Help your fellow hobos whenever and wherever needed; you may need their help someday.
16. If present at a hobo court and you have testimony, give it. Whether for or against the accused, your voice counts!

What a country, huh? Even the vagabonds in 19th century America felt it important to have a code of ethics. Oh, I'm sure plenty of folks didn't abide by the code, but they very concept...Can you imagine a "Homeless Code of Ethics" today? The very idea is absurd, how many homeless would even think they needed one, and how many would follow it if it existed?

posted by WeirdDave at 05:10 PM

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